Hi Mia. I'm glad to hear you're OK and seem to be making some steady progress. Since he has taken back some things you used to do for him, consider that "gift of time" that you can use for more self-care. I wonder if he'll have the stamina to keep doing all those things in the long run. I'd not be surprised if he comes back around and wants to turn those chores back over to you.
It is great to hear that you have so much going on like volunteering, painting, and skating. Keep doing things for YOU and your kids alone for now. We can get so hooked on doing things for our partners, family, friends, etc. that we neglect to do things that help us individually grow, feel happy, and enjoy life, with or without a dedicated partner. If you're not familiar with the idea of "self-soothing" I recommend learning more about it. The first time I DB'd, our MC pushed me to get better at finding ways to calm myself down without relying on my W. I've also found it to be a great skill to work with my daughter to learn. Keep us posted on your progress!
